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When to Plant Fava Beans in Cheyenne County, NE

Fava beans are a cool-season legume with large, meaty beans inside thick pods. They fix nitrogen in the soil and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

Cheyenne County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 146 days.

At an elevation of 1,108 feet, Cheyenne County receives approximately 26.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Fava Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Cheyenne County, NE (Zone 5b) Short season
146 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
146 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Cheyenne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Fava Beans Planting Timeline — Cheyenne County, NE

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 – May 18
Harvest July 27 Jul 27 – Sep 7
Fall Sowing July 26 Jul 26 – Aug 9

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

75–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

146 days in Cheyenne County

Growing Tips for Cheyenne County

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Pinch growing tips when pods begin to form to redirect energy and reduce aphid problems. Stake tall varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fava Beans in Cheyenne County, NE?

Cheyenne County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cheyenne County, NE?

Cheyenne County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is October 4.

🌱

Your Cheyenne County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cheyenne County (Zone 5b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Cheyenne County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.